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Topic: Why Lee is transferring
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 05-28-2016 12:44 PM
What happens to Kentucky's five-star recruits who don't go one-and-done? Marcus Lee just learned about the risk of losing your spot to John Calipari's next great wave of talent.
John Calipari has been at Kentucky for seven seasons, and for seven seasons Kentucky has brought in either the No. 1 or No. 2 recruiting class in the country. That streak pushed into 2016 with a five-man class made up entirely of 5-star, top-25 players in ESPN's database. Calipari has suggested his incoming class might be his best ever, which is the type of thing that's usually said around this time of the year.
"Marcus Lee informed us today that he is pulling his name out of the draft but has decided he is going to transfer to a school out west to be closer to his family," Calipari said in a statement on Wednesday. "We talked it through together and discussed the team next season, which he said had no bearing on his decision."
At worst, the last sentence of that statement seems dubious. At best, it's another reminder that Calipari is the greatest and most ruthless recruiter alive.
Lee isn't coming back to Kentucky because Calipari recruited over him. The Wildcats are going to be as stacked as ever in the front court once again next season with five-star freshmen Bam Adebayo, Sacha Killeya-Jones and combo forward Wenyen Gabriel joining a mix that already includes Derek Willis, Isaac Humphries and Tai Wynyard.
Lee wasn't pushed out -- Kentucky had a scholarship available for him -- but the implication was clear: Just because you're a senior doesn't mean you're guaranteed minutes. Lexington is the ultimate meritocracy in that way, a place where everyone is so talented a few totally capable players are bound to fall behind.
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Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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Ol' Blue
Player
Member # 2317
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posted 05-28-2016 04:05 PM
I think Lee possibly burned some bridges. Why was Goodman reporting everything first? Lee wanted to be the man, and the NBA combine showed him he had a long way to go. Cal will never promise minutes, and Lee saw the handwriting. JMO
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Number nine will be divine!!
A man needs something to believe in.........I believe I'll have another beer!
Posts: 2274 | From: Roanoke, TX | Registered: Jan 2005
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ukman
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Member # 3032
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posted 05-28-2016 06:17 PM
For all we know Lee may be just as good as a couple of these guys. I never believe they are as good as hyped. It's totally different when they have to start going against juniors and the ocassional senior. I hope we don't miss Lee. And I hope that Humphries gets a chance to show what he can do with some quality minutes.
Posts: 5444 | From: georgia | Registered: Jan 2009
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SCWC
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Member # 2464
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posted 05-30-2016 10:59 AM
There is no doubt that Lee is a super young man who will be successful in life and has been a big asset to our basketball program over the past three years. He is not however an NBA caliber player in my humble opinion. He has improved very little over his 3 years at UK and I can certainly understand his transferring and sitting out a year to see if he can develop a game that will get him drafted to the NBA. I seriously doubt we will ever see him on an NBA roster but hope for his sake that he makes it. He will be a great addition to whatever school he decides to finish his career at.
Posts: 17777 | From: Myrtle Beach, SC | Registered: Jun 2005
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EnterpriseCat
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Member # 2881
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posted 05-30-2016 05:46 PM
Lee is a far better person than basketball player. He has zero ball handling or shooting skill. He is an offensive rebound and alley oop player at best. I really wish him well, but I don't think we will miss him next year.
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Romans 8:38-39
JD4U
Posts: 2307 | From: Enterprise, AL | Registered: Oct 2007
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catmandoo
Player
Member # 1284
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posted 05-30-2016 07:29 PM
Some lucky college team is going to pick-up a good player and hopefully he will get a chance to make the draft. He barley played half a game for our Cats last season lead the team in rebounding by a pretty good margin. If he just had a decent shot he would have a very good chance to make a NBA roster.
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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